[Festival of the Evening Shrine], Welcoming Inari's Arrival! I'm Afraid This Gentleman Won't Get What He Wishes For

At first, the two spectral guardian foxes were still warily eyeing Two-Shaku-Sama, whose aura seemed slightly strange. At first glance, she looked like a Bodhisattva, but on closer inspection, aside from her bearing, she looked nothing like one.

But after Uesugi Tetsu solemnly vouched for them, the spectral foxes stopped obstructing them. They merely gave them a few pointed reminders with their eyes.

"This torii gate is said to have been donated by Toyotomi Hideyoshi."

Minamoto Shizuka's calm voice rang out from behind him, making Uesugi Tetsu raise his head and stare at the magnificent vermilion torii for a while.

"The Monkey..."

Uesugi Tetsu murmured almost inaudibly.

Toyotomi Hideyoshi would become his enemy in the "not-too-distant future."

If he succeeded, would this torii gate disappear as well? Or would someone else replace him as its donor?

The stone bases on both sides, bearing fox sculptures in full bloom, were also engraved with the characters for "dedication." The sculptures had been exposed to the scorching sun, wind, and rain here for who knew how many years.

The same was probably true of the two spectral foxes.

With that thought, Uesugi Tetsu casually rubbed out some soul ash, put it in a small pouch, and tossed it neatly into the hands of the two dutiful yet bored spectral foxes.

Everyone's a wage earner. A little reward shouldn't be a problem, right?

The two spectral foxes were startled by the objects thrown at them. They had just raised their naginata to issue a warning when they suddenly noticed that their whole bodies felt a little lighter.

They sensed it carefully and discovered that the little leather pouch contained extremely pure soul crystals.

Even merely carrying it against their bodies made them feel somewhat more relaxed.

The guardian foxes fell silent for a moment